Hosting a holiday party or family gathering? Instead of serving up the usual calorific cocktails (think: eggnog and buttered rum), which can cost as much as some dinner options, try my slimmer spins. They’re just as delicous as the originals, but won’t leave you feeling like a stuffed mall Santa. Your guests will be toasting YOU.

Chia Spiced Eggnog

A single glass of the holiday classic with alcohol is a total splurge. I’m not saying you should skip the seasonal sip—it’s a staple at most parties and family gatherings…and you can and should enjoy it on occasion.

But when you’re in the mood for a lightened-up version, whip up this Chia-Spiced Eggnog, which incorporates chai tea for a spicy spin. It’s soothing, aromatic, flavorful and totally satisfying. Plus, it gives you the option to add alcohol if you’d like.

Hot Buttered Rum

Hot Buttered Rum—the name says it all. Not only does it explain the drink’s deliciousness but also why it’s a diet-buster. Made with lots of rum, sugar and butter, this cocktail can pack a 445-calorie punch.

My remake, which omits the butter but tastes every bit as rich and creamy thanks to the maple syrup, clocks in with just 96 calories.

To make a serving of my Hot “Buttered” Rum, combine 1½ teaspoons maple syrup, ½  teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 ounce spiced rum, ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves and ½ cup hot water in a high-powered blender. Process until combined and sip skinny!

Peppermint-ini

Peppermint meets martini in this refreshing cocktail that can tip the scales with nearly 500 calories. The ingredients list of this “drink,” reads more like a dessert. Polish one off and it’s like you crunched through 32 mini candy canes—eeks.

A slimmer selection: My Peppermint-ini, which has less than half the calories of the original (210). To make, add 1 ounce vanilla vodka, 3 ounces unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 1/8 teaspoon peppermint extract and 1¼ ounces crème de cacao (clear) to a shaker with ice. Strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with 1 mini candy cane hanging on the side or crush and use it to coat the rim of a glass. Pure peppermint pleasure. 

Gingerbread Martini

We love gingerbread houses and gingberbread cookies, so why not…gingerbread martinis? The only problem is with its 480-plus-calorie price tag, you’d be sipping the equivalent of 15 gingerman cookies.

I concocted a trimmer version that goes for just 257 calories, so you can enjoy the yummy cocktail without overdoing it. The trick to my Gingerbread Martini is a delicious, simple syrup infused with ginger, cinnamon and cloves. Feel free to double, triple, or quadruple the amounts of water and sugar in order to prepare this recipe for a party. (The key is to keep the ratio of water and sugar the same.) I like to make a batch ahead of time and keep it in the fridge so everything is ready come party time. Give it a shot for your next festive get-together.

Holiday Sangria

My Holiday Sangria is a party in a glass! As cocktails go, this one has a lot to offer—the red wine donates heart-healthy antioxidants and the sliced apples, pears, and oranges deliver a respectable dose of powerful produce. Topping off each glass with a generous splash of seltzer dilutes the calories and makes the drink last just a little longer.

To make, combine 1 bottle of red wine in a pitcher with 3/4 cup 100% orange juice, 1/4 cup orange liqueur, fresh fruit slices (1 orange, 1 green apple, and 1 pear), and a cinnamon stick, and let it sit in the fridge for at least four hours. Pour into glasses and finish with a few ounces of pomegranate, cranberry, or orange seltzer for a fizzy finale. Makes 8 servings. 150 calories per serving.

Pomegranate Sparkler

Make this year’s New Year’s Eve champagne toast extra special by infusing your bubbly with an antioxidant-rich splash of pomegranate juice. Along with a few health perks, my Pomegranate Sparkler boasts a very merry red color and a lovely sweet-tart finish for just 80 calories.

To make this chic cocktail, pour 3 ounces of sparkling wine into a champagne flute, top it off with an ounce of pomegranate juice, and drop in a few pomegranate arils (the fruit’s seeds) for a fun garnish.

Ginger Sparkler

There’s nothing better than a nice chilly glass of bubbly to ring in the New Year. However, people are always looking to add ingredients to it, like sugar and other forms of alcohol, to flavor it up. For instance, a typical Ginger Sparkler comes loaded with a sugary syrup, vodka and more than 220 calories (which is equivalent to six ginger cookies).

My slim spin trims about 60 calories from the cocktail, but offers the same delicious flavor. To make my Ginger Sparkler, mix equal parts sugar and powdered ginger and add to a small dish or saucer. Run a lemon wedge along the rim of a champagne flute, then dip in the sugar-ginger mix to rim the glass. Add 1 teaspoon crystalized ginger to the bottom of the champagne flute, then pour in 5 ounces of champagne. Enjoy!

Looking for more festive, family-friendly drinks? Check out these delicious 4 Low-Calorie Holiday Drinks.

Intro

Hosting a holiday party or family gathering? Instead of serving up the usual calorific cocktails (think: eggnog and buttered rum), which can cost as much as some dinner options, try my slimmer spins. They’re just as delicous as the originals, but won’t leave you feeling like a stuffed mall Santa. Your guests will be toasting YOU.